Teratment room construction for dental offices



TREATMENT ROOM CONSTRUCTION FOR DENTAL OFFICES .Filed Aug. 10, 1966 C.P. SMITH Aug. 6, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,395,500 TERATMENT ROOM CONSTRUCTION FOR DENTAL OFFICES CannonPerry Smith, 1350 Gonzales Road, Oxnard, Calif. 93030 Filed Aug. 10,1966, Set. No. 571,584 8 Claims. (Cl. 52-29) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA dental office fioor plan is provided including a revolving circularplatform which supports patients seated in three dental chairs onvarious portions of the platform. Rotation of the platform brings thepatients to the operative are-a so that only one operatory is neededrather than the usual three separate rooms for the patients. Suitablecurtains or collapsible walls radially extend over portions of thecircular platform and can be closed and opened to separate the threepatients involved. The platform! is rotated upon complete opening of thecurtains to move a patient from one room to the other and after theplatform has been rotated through the necessary ancuate distance, thecurtains are closed.

This invention relates generally to the design and construction oftreatment areas and more particularly to a novel treatment roomconstruction for use in dental offices.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described inconjunction with dental ofiices, it is to be understood that theconstruction involved is applicable to other professional type officesin which a number of patients are to be treated.

The nature of professional dental practise is such that many proceduresonce begun on a patient are followed by a waiting period. For example,after an anaesthetic is administered, several minutes must elapse beforethe next step in an operative procedure such as debrirnent and suture ofa wound, removal of a tooth, and so forth. This time is lost to thedentist unless he has provided'another room with another set ofinstruments and equipment in which another patient has been previouslyseated and readied for treatment. It is for this reason that the modernprofessional or dental ofiice provides, in addition toa reception room,business office, laboratory, and so forth, two or more operatory ortreatment rooms.

The provision of two or more operatory rooms not only necessitates thepurchase of duplicate equipment, but results in the inefficient travelfrom one room to another by the dentist and his auxiliary personnelthroughout the day. Moreover, the continual re-orientation of the mindthat must take place by those who constantly change work locations canbecome exhaustive.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, it is a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a novel dental ofiice design and treatmentroom construction which, first, relieves the present inefficientarrangement of equipment; second, corrects the cumbersome flow ofintra-oifice trafiic; and, third, eliminates the duplication ofequipment used in the ofli-ce, all to the end that the foregoingproblems are overcome.

Briefly, this and many other objects and advantages of this inventionare attained by providing a treatment area including an enlargedenclosure incorporating movable curtain means dividing the enclosureinto separate rooms when closed. A circular platform substantiallyco-planar with the floor of the enclosure is provided and is of a sizesuch that portions of the platform extend into each of the rooms, eachof these portions in turn supporting a dental chair. One of the roomsconstitutes an operative room for a single set of dental implements suchas drilling equipment and the like, and another of the rooms, in thecase of only two rooms, constitutes a waiting room.

A platform drive means is provided and is under control of the dentistor operator such that the platform may be rotated to move the dentalchair in a Waiting room into the operative room. By this arrangement, apatient may be seated in the waiting room and pre-treated' and thenmoved into the operative room by opening the curtain means and rotatingthe platform. While this patient is being treated in the operative room,a next patient may be received in the waiting room and prepared forsubsequent treatment.

Preferably, the curtain means divides the enclosure into three rooms sothat a dentist may effectively work on three patients at one timewithout having to move himself or any of his equipment from the oneoperative room.

In addition to the above, the invention contemplates the provision of arotatable tray defining tray sections mounted in the operative room in aconvenient position for use by the dentist. The tray sections arearranged to be successively exposed upon rotation of the tray, thislatter rotation being synchronized with rotation of the platform. Thus,a set of instruments will be positioned for use by the dentist for onepatient in one room when that patient is moved to the operative room andanother set of instruments on another tray section will be positionedfor use by the dentist automatically when another patient is moved intothe operative room. This arrangement avoids the necessity ofre-sterilizing instruments whenever a patient is moved from one room toanother.

The advantages of the foregoing arrangement will be evident. Theexistence of only one treatment or operatory room makes for far moreefficient management of the operative procedure. All equipment and toolsused can have one permanent location and all are easily accessible tothe operator or dentist. The dentist has only one area to be concernedabout and his orientation to his working area remains constantthroughout the dayl Not only is intra and interofiice traffic flowgreatly simplified, but a considerable amount of time is saved on boththe dentist's part and that of the patient. Further, the need forduplication of equipment in other rooms, which is extremely costly, iswholly eliminated.

A better understanding of the invention as used in dental oifices willbe had by now referring to one embodiment thereof as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a treatment area in a dentalofiice floor plan construction in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of a portion of theconstruction taken in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the equipmentincorporated in the treatment area of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 4 is an electrical ladder diagram useful in explaining suitablecontrol means for operating the system shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 there is shown in the right portion of thedrawing an entrance area or reception room 10. A receptionist or nursemay be located in an area 11 for greeting incoming patients through asuitable transparent partition 12.

In the central area of the dental office there is provided an enclosuredefined generally by a circular peripheral wall 13 provided, in theparticular embodiment disclosed, with three entrance doors 14, 15, and16. These doors, as shown, are spaced approximately one hundred andtwenty degrees and provide ingress and egress to enclosed 3 areas withinthe wall 13. An exit hallway is indicated by the arrow 17 for the dentaloffice.

Within the enclosure 13 there are provided curtain means in the form ofthree individual curtains arranged to extend from a central portion ofthe area radially outwardly towards the pehipheral wall 13 defining theenclosure. The first of these curtain means is illustrated as a curtain18 arranged to slide on a suitable overhead or ceiling track 19 suitablycurved trangentially to lie close to the interior surface of theenclosing peripheral wall. A second curtain is shown at 20 having asimilar cooperating overhead ceiling track 21, and a third curtain isshown at 22 having a similar overhead ceiling track 23. It will be notedthat the ceiling tracks are so isposed that when the curtains are openedby being guided into tangential relationship With the wall they blockthe entrances through the doors 14, 15, and 16 respectively. The purposefor this particular design will become evident as the descriptionproceeds.

When the various curtains 18, 20, and 22, are closed, it will be notedthat they define with other central partitions three separate roomsdesignated I, II, and III, each having arcuate extents of approximatelyone hundred and twenty degrees.

As shown in FIGURE 1, there is further included within the treatmentenclosure 13 a circular platform 24 substantially co-planar with thefloor of the treatment area. The diameter of the circular platform 24 issuch that portions of the platform extend into each of the rooms definedby the various curtains when they are closed. These portions serve tosupport dental chairs indicated at 25, 26 and 27, respectively.

The first room I may include suitable pre-operative equipment such as anX-ray machine 28.

The second room II, in the particular embodiment disclosed, constitutesan operative room including a tray cabinet 29 supporting a rotatabletray 30. This tray is disposed in a convenient position for a dentist oroperator who may use a stool 31 normally disposed under a treatmentcounter 32 as indicated by the dotted line. Above the counter 32 thereis included an overhead cabinet structure housing suitable dentalequipment such as a dental drill, suction equipment, and otherconventional dental devices. Across the rotatable platform in the sameroom II there may be provided shelf space 33 and access to a suitablelaboratory. Thus, the operative room II will include all of theoperative equipment normally used by a dentist and only one piece or setof such equipment is necessary. It will be evident that the arrangementis such that when the dentist sits on the stool 31 he is in a convenientposition for treating a patient on the dental chair 26.

The third room III may constitute a post-operative room or waiting roomand includes, for example, a dark room 34.

The various curtains 18, 20, and 22, are arranged to move between openedand closed positions by suitable curtain drive means in the form ofcurtain motors designated CM1, CM2, and CM3, respectively. The circularplatform 24, in turn, is arranged to be rotated by a suitable platformdrive means including a drive motor DM shown in a broken away portionengaging the periphery of the platform.

To provide an ideal bearing for accommodating various loads on theplatform, there are provided means for floating the platform on acushion of air. These means take the form of suitable air confining padsbeneath the platform in positions indicated by the dotted lines 35,there being provided in the embodiment disclosed, ten such padscircumferentially distributed as shown. As will become clearer as thedescription proceeds, the various air confining pads are arranged toreceive air under pressure through suitable conduits such as indicatedat 36 fed by a common conduit 37 passing through an exhaust valve 38 toconnect to an air motor AM as shown in the upper left hand portion ofthe drawing. The design is such that operation of the air motor willforce air into the various pads constituting the air confining means toeffectively raise the platform 24 a short distance, such as /2 to 4inch, thereby flowing the same on a cushion of air so that the drivemotor DM may easily rotate the platform through any desired angulardistance.

The various air confining pads such as indicated at 35 in FIGURE 1 areall identical and therefore a more detailed description of one willsuflice for all. Thus, with particular reference to the fragmentarycross-section of FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the circular platform24 includes about its bottom marginal edges suitable angle irons 39 and40 which serve to support the platform 24 when it is flushed with thesurface of the floor area of the treatment room II. The platform 24, asillustrated in FIGURE 2 is driven by the drive motor DM, by means of acircular gear 41 on the outside edge of the platform, coupled to a spurgear 42 connected to the drive motor. The circular platform 24 itself isheld in concentric relationship by suitable rollers, such as indicatedat 43, there being provided three such rollers at about one hundred andtwenty degree intervals mounted to engage the inner edge of platform 24and thus guide it in its rotational movement.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the air confining lift pad 35 includes a flexibletop diaphragm 44 provided with a plurality of small openings 45. Theenclosed volume defined by the diaphragm 44 and the pad 35 receivescompressed air from the conduit 36 as shown. This air is entrappedbetween the sides of the angle irons 39 and 40 and the underside of theplatform 24 such that pressure is built up under the platform to raisethe platform on a cushion of air. The air escapes slowly under the angleiron flanges 39 and 40 when the platform is raised. By usingapproximately ten such confining air pads 35, it is found that theplatform may easily be raised on a cushion of air for rotation by thedrive motor DM even when all three dental chairs are occupied bypatients.

FIGURE 3 illustrates in fragmentary perspective view the tray housing 29and tray 30 described in FIGURE 1 as mounted on the equipment counter 32in convenient position for use by the dentist. As illustrated in FIGURE3, the tray 30 defines three tray sections designated I, II, and III.The tray is arranged to be rotated by a tray drive means in he form of atray motor TM as shown in FIGURE 3. This tray motor is wired forsimultaneous operation with the drive motor TM for the rotary platformsuch that the tray H will be in an exposed convenient position forsupporting instruments to be used on a patient seated in the chair 26 ofFIGURE 1. When the platform is rotated through approximately one hundredand twenty degrees to bring, for example, the chair 25 of FIGURE 1 fromthe room I to the operative room II, the tray structure 30 isautomatically rotated to bring the tray section 1' into positionformerly occupied by the tray section 11. Similarly, a further rotationof the table to bring the dental chair 27 into the room II results inthe tray section III being moved into postion for use.

Other dental equipment such as the conventional dental drill and soforth may be disposed, as described heretofore, in an overhead cabinetabove the treating counter 32 such as indicated in fragmentary form at46 in FIG- URE 3.

With the description of the treatment area deascribed thus far in mind,the manner in which the same operates to increase efficiency will becomeevident. Thus, with reference once again to FIGURE 1, a patient enteringthe reception room 10 may immediately be seated in the dental chair 25by being escorted through the door 14. At this point, the variouscurtains 18, 20, and 22 are all closed so that privacy is afforded thepatient when he is seated in the room I. The patient may then besuitably treated preparatory to operative or other type treatment in theoperative room II by a nurse or suitable personnel in the room I. Forexample, X-rays may be taken as by X-ray equipment 28.

When the dentist in the operative room II is ready to receive thepatient in the dental chair 25, he will actuate a suitable control meanswhich may be housed beneath the equipment counter 32 which willautomatically effect opening of the various curtains 18, 20, and 22 bymeans of the curtain motors CM1, CM2, and CM3. Opening of these curtainswill automatically eclipse the various doors 14, 15, and 16 so that noone can enter or leave the various rooms when the curtains are open. Thecontrol means includes means responsive to complete opening of thecurtains for energizing the air motor AM. Energization of the air motorwill then raise the platform to float the platform on a cushion of air.The control means also include suitable means responsive to raising ofthe platform for starting the drive motor DM thereby rotating theplatform 24 to bring the patient in the dental chair 25 to the positionformerly occupied by the dental chair 26. Any patient in the dentalchair 26 is transported to the room III to occupy the position formerlyoccupied by the dental chair 27.

The conrtol means is so designed as to provide for automatic stopping ofthe platform after it has rotated through one hundred and twentydegrees. The same equipment provides for automatic lowering of theplatform by de-energization of the air motor and for automatic closureof the various curtains, if desired. When all of the curtains areclosed, there is again afforded privacy between the three rooms and thedentist or other operator may then treat the patient received in theroom II. During this teratment, another patient may be received in roomI and suitable pre-operative treatment afforded this patient. Anypatient in the room III may be subject to suitable post-operativetreatment or waiting preparator to again being returned to room II. Inthis respect, the platform 24 is designed to be rotated in eitherclockwise or counterclockwise directions. When a patients treatment iscompleted, he will ordinarily be moved to the room III where he mayreadily exit through the door .16 and exit passageway 17.

It will thus be understood that a smooth circular type traffic flow isprovided without any cumbersome intraroom or office traffic. The dentistor other operator may treat up to three patients substantiallysimultaneously, the doctor actively operating on one patient during anywait ing period required of another for an anaesthetic to take effect orother treatment to be completed.

The manner in which all of the foregoing opeartions by the control meansare carried out will now become clear by referring to the controlcircuit illustrated in FIG- URE 4.

As shown to the left and right respectively of the ladder diagram ofFIGURE 4 there are provided input power terminal leads 47 and 48 whichmay receive D.C. from a conventional rectifier connected to a 110 volt60 cycle electrical power source. This power is applied to power lines49 and 50 defining each side of the electrical circuit ladder diagram. Asuitable safety switch SS may be provided in the input power terminallead 48 as shown. Opening of this switch will de-energize all of theequipment illustrated in the ladder diagram. This switch, however, isnormally closed.

Referring to the upper left portion of the diagram, there is shown aforward and reverse switch F and R which may be set in the forwardposition as shown or switched to the reverse position as shown. When inthe forward position, the field windings of the tray motor TM and thedrive motor DM are connected for energization from power on the line 49and when the switches F and R are thrown such that the reverse switch Ris closed and the forward switch F is open, the power on the line 49 isapplied to the field windings in a reverse direction to reverse thedirection of the motors TM and DM. The other side of these respectivemotors connect through microswitches TR and PR1 respectively to theother power line 50. These microswitches are arranged to be operated,respectively, upon rotation of the tray 30 and the platform 24, theselatter components being illustrated schematically to the right of theladder diagram. As shown, the switches are paralleled by relay switchesB3 and B2 respectively, a relay coil C being connected between theswitch B2 and the power line 49.

The air motor AM described in FIGURE 1 is shown to the left in FIGURE 4and connects through relay switches B1 and C1 in parallel to the line50. The line 50 inself is provided with a platform switch PS which, whenopen, isolates the tray motor and drive motor from power applied to theline 50. This platform switch is arranged to be closed upon raising ofthe platform 24 and opened upon dropping of the platform 24 as indicatedby the dotted lines and schematic showing of the platform 24.

Following down the ladder diagram there are shown a plurality of curtainmicroswitches CS1, CS2, and CS3, all in series with a relay coil B and arelay switch AS, the other side of which connects to the power line 50.Below this circuit is included a push button master switch MS arrangedto be shunted by a relay switch A1 in series with a relay coil A and asecond rotary platform microswitch PR2. Below these components, thereare provided the curtain motors CM1, CM2, and CM3 arranged to beoperated in forward or reverse directions depending upon the currentflow direction through their field windings. Thus, the upper connectionsto the windings are arranged to be energized through a curtain openmicroswitch CO in series with a relay switch A2 connecting to the powerline 50. The lower side of the field winding for a reverse movement ofthe motor CMI is arranged to be energized by a curtain close switch CCand relay switches C2 and B4- in series therewith connected to the powerline 50. The relay switches A2, C2, and B4 in series are shunted bysuitable manually operable override switches to open and close thecurtains, these switches being designated MO and MC respectively. Thefield winding connections to the motors CM2 and CM3 are similar to thosefor CMI as indicated in FIGURE 4, the microswitches corresponding to A2and C2 and B4 in series being designated A3, A4, and C3B5, C4-B6respectively.

The relay coils A, B, and C when energized actuate their respectiveassociated switches designated by the letters A, B and C followed by anumeral identifying the individual switches. Thus, when the relay coil Ais energized, the switches A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 will all be closed andwhen the relay coil A is de-energized, these switches will all open.Similarly, when the relay coil B is energized, the switches B1, B2, andB3 will be closed and the switches B4, B5, and B6 opened; and when therelay coil B is deencrgized, the switches B1, B2 and B31 will open andthe switches B4, B5, and B6 will close. When the relay coil C isenergized, the switch C1 will close and switches C2, C3, and C4 willopen and when the relay coil C is deenergized, the relay switch C1 willopen and the switches C2, C3, and C4 will close.

With the foregoing description of the various components of the controlcircuit diagram in mind, its operation will now be described. Assumefirst that the dentist has finished a treatment on a patient in thedental chair 2.6 in room II as described in FIGURE 1 and he now wishesto transport a patient in dental chair 25 from the room I to the room IIand transport the patient in room II to room III.

When the platform 24 is stationary, the various curtains are closed toprovide privacy for the respective patients in the dental chairs. It isthus necessary to open these curtains before the platform 24 can berotated to effect the desired movement of the patient.

Referring to the central portion of FIGURE 4, the dentist or otheroperator will first press the master switch button MS. With the platform24 in its down or stationary position, the platform rotary microswitchPR2 is closed as shown in FIGURE 4 so that pressing of the master switchbutton MS energizes relay coil A by connecting the same across the powerleads 49 and 50. Energization of the relay coil A will close the relayswitch A]. thereby holding the relay coil A energized even though themaster switch push button MS is released. Also, the relay switches A2,A3 and A4 will close. Closing of these latter switches will energize thecurtain motors CMl, CM2, and CM3 through the curtain open switches COrespectively so that these motors will operate to open the curtainssimultaneously. When the curtains reach an open position, themicroswitches CS1, CS2, and CS3 are respectively engaged by the curtainsand moved to closed positions. This action results in energization ofthe relay coil B since the switch A5 is now being held closed by therelay coil A.

Energization of the relay coil B will then immediately close theswitches B1, B2, and B3 and open the switches B4, B5, and B6. Uponcomplete opening of the curtains, the curtain close microswitches CCwill close but the curtain motors will not be energized in view of theautomatic opening of the switches B4, B5, and B6.

Energization of the relay coil B to close microswitches B2 and B3 willnot affect the drive motor or tray motor DM and TM since the platformswitch PS in the power line 50 is open. Closing of the microswitch B1however, will energize the air motor AM and thus the platform 24 will beraised as a consequence of the air pressure passed into the variousconfining pads as described in conjunction with FIGURES 1 and 2.

When the platform 24 is raised, it will then engage the platform switchPS in the power line 50 to close the same. With the switch now closed,the tray motor and drive motor TM and DM will be simultaneouslyenergized through the closed microswitches B3 and B2, respectively.

Energization of the drive motor DM will rotate the platform and uponrotation of the platform the platform rotary switch PR1 will move off ofa suitable projection to assume a closed position. This will only occurafter the platform has been rotated slightly to permit the microswitchto close.

Similarly, the tray motor TM will also simultaneously rotate uponclosing of the platform switch PS and the tray 30 itself includes asuitable peripheral projection which will permit the tray rotary switchTR to close only after a slight rotative movement of the tray 30.

Finally, closing of the platform switch PS to energize the tray motorand drive motor will also energize the relay coil C through the closedrelay switch B2 to thereby close the switch C1 and thus maintain poweracross the air motor AM. At this time switches C2, C3, and C4 open.

It will be noted that the platform rotary switch PR2 is openedsubstantially simultaneously with the closing of the platform switch PR1by tying these switches together as shown. In other words, after aninitial rotary movement of the platform 24 resulting in the closing ofthe switch PR1, the switch PR2 in series with the relay coil A opens. Asa consequence, the relay coil A is de-energized so that the switches A2,A3, A4, and A5 all open.

Opening of the relay switch A5 de-energizes the relay coil B so that theswitches B1, B2, and B3 will all open and the switches B4, B5, and B6will close. However, the tray motor and drive motor will still beenergized through the now closed switches TR and PR1 and the air motorwill continue to be energized since the relay coil C is still energizedthrough the closed switch C1. Opening of switches C2, C3, and C4prevents operation of the curtain motors when B4, B5, and B6 close.

Under the foregoing conditions, the platform will thus continue torotate until it has moved approximately one hundred and twenty degrees.At this point, there is provided on the platform another projectionwhich functions to open the microswitch PR1 and similarly, the rotatingtray 30 includes another projection spaced one hundred and twentydegrees from the first mentioned projection for opening the microswitchTR. Thus, when the rotary platform and tray reach their new positionsafter moving through approximately an angular distance of one hundredand twenty degrees, the drive motor DM and tray motor TM arede-energized. Also, the relay coil C is de-energized upon opening of PR1resulting in opening of the switch C1 to thereby de-energize the airmotor. Switches C2, C3, and C4 now close and since the switches CC areclosed when the curtains are open, the curtain motors will be energizedin a reverse direction to close the curtains. When the curtains close,the switches CS1, CS2 and CS3 open and the switches CC and CO close.

Also, upon de-energization of the air motor AM, the platform 24 willlower itself under its own weight and thereby result in opening of theplatform switch PS in the platform 50. All of the various switches willthen be in their original positions as shown in FIGURE 4.

The dentist or other operator may now treat the new patient that hasbeen moved by the rotary platform. After suitable treatment, when heagain desires to rotate the platform through another one hundred andtwenty degrees to bring in another patient or to bring back the firstpatient, he will again simply depress the master switch MS and the cycleof operations described heretofore will simply be repeated. This cycleof operations will be the same when the forward and reverse switch isthrown to the reverse position except that the platform 24 and tray 30will rotate in opposite directions.

In the event the dentist or operator wishes to open or close any one ormore of the curtains without rotating the platform or tray, he mayreadily do so by operating the shunting manual override switches MO orMC for any one of the curtains. Preferably these manually operableswitches are spring loaded so that they must be held in closed positionin order to remain closed so that release of the switches will result intheir opening. By such an arrangement, the operator or dentist may openthe curtains to any desired degree he desires.

In the event of any serious malfunctioning, the safety switch SS in thepower input lead 48 may be opened to de-energize all of the variouscomponents as described.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the presentinvention has provided a greatly improved treatment room constructionfor dental offices in which the various objects set forth heretofore arefully realized.

While the partitions defining the various rooms in the enclosure havebeen defined as curtains or curtain means, the term curtain or curtainmeans is meant to embody any equivalent partition type movablestructure, such as accordian type panels and the like, or even a curvedsolid integral wall section suitably guided by the curved tracks formovement, or suitable doors mounted for conventional swinging.

Further, while the air motor AM has been described in FIGURE 4 as beingdirectly energized and de-energized, the air motor may be continuouslyoperated and the air flow controlled by an electrically operatedsolenoid valve such as the exhaust valve 38 described in FIGURE 1. Inthis case, the electrical connection in FIGURE 4 would be to the valverather than the air motor AM and energization of the valve would closethe exhaust so that air from the motor would pass to the pads.De-energization of the valve would simply open the exhaust to let theair escape from the various pads.

The invention accordingly is not to be thought of as limited toparticular components or circuit elements set forth by way of example.

What is claimed is:

1. A treatment area including: an enclosure having movable curtain meansdefining separate rooms when closed; a rotatable platform havingportions extending into each of said rooms; curtain drive means formoving said curtain means between open and closed positions; platformdrive means for rotating said platform; and control means for actuatingsaid curtain means from closed to open position and including means forautomatically rotating said platform in response to complete opening ofsaid curtain means through an angular distance sufficient to repositionthe portion of said platform in one room to another of said rooms,whereby a person to be treated may be moved by said platform from oneroom to another room.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, including a rotatable tray definingtray sections mounted in one of said rooms, said control means includingmeans for automatically rotating said trap through an angular distancecorresponding to the angular distance through which said platform moveswhereby a person in said one room may be treated with instruments on oneof said tray sections and movement of another person in another room tosaid one room rotates said tray to position another of said traysections for supporting instruments to be used in treating said anotherperson into the position formerly occupied by said one of said traysections.

3. In a dental office, a treatment area including: an enlargedenclosure; movable curtain means dividing said enclosure into separaterooms when closed; a circular platform substantially co-planar with thefloor of said enclosure having portions extending into each of saidrooms for respectively supporting dental chairs, one of said roomsconstituting an operative room for dental equipment and another of saidrooms constituting a waiting room; a rotatable tray defining traysections mounted in said operative room; curtain drive means for movingsaid curtain means between open and closed positions; platform drivemeans for rotating said platform; tray drive means for rotating saidtray; and control means for operation by a dentist for energizing saidcurtain drive means, said platform drive means, and said tray drivemeans whereby a patient may be seated in said waiting room and thenmoved into said operative room by opening said curtain means androtating said platform, and while said patient is being treated in saidoperative room, a next patient may be received in said waiting room, onesection of said tray means being automatically rotated into position foruse when one patient is in said operative room and another section ofsaid tray means being rotated into position for use when another patientis in said operative room.

4. The subject matter of claim 3, in which said platform drive means andtray means are intercoupled such that said tray drive means rotates saidtray simultaneously with and through the same angular distance as saidplatform is rotated by said platform drive means.

5. The subject matter of claim 3, in which said curtain means comprisesthree curtains adapted to extend from a central area in said enclosuregenerally radially outwardly to the peripheral wall of said enclosuresuch that each room defined by said curtain means has an arcuate extentof approximately one hundred and twenty degrees.

6. The subject matter of claim 3, in which said platform drive meansincludes: air confining means under said platform; an air motor forincreasing the air pressure in said confining means to raise saidplatform on a cushion of air; and a drive motor coupled to rotate saidplatform upon energization, said control means including first platformswitch means automatically responsive to raising of said platform uponenergization of said air motor to energize said drive motor to rotatesaid platform, and second platform switch means responsive to rotationof said platform through a given distance sufficient to transport apatient from one room to another room to automatically de-energize saiddrive motor and de-energize said air motor.

7. The subject matter of claim 6, in which said control means furtherincludes a master control switch operable by a dentist to actuate saidcurtain drive means; and curtain switch means responsoive to opening ofsaid curtain means to automatically energize said air motor.

8. The subject matter of claim 7, in which said control means furtherincludes manual over-ride switch means for actuating said curtain drivemeans independently of the other components of said control means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 479,001 7/1892 Gutierrez 52-237 X2,764,783 10/1956 Teller 52-65 3,078,522 2/1963 Anderson 52-65 X3,115,684 12/1963 Joy 52-237 X JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner.

